Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 144

Lola’s worry lingered, refusing to leave her heart. She glanced at the clock, estimating that their guest would arrive any minute, then turned to her daughter. “Silvia, Kent should be here soon. If there’s anything you two need to work out, now’s the time. Tonight, your father and I are on your side. We won’t let you be mistreated in this marriage.”

Silvia paused, caught off guard by her mother’s words. She lowered her gaze, a silent sigh echoing inside her.

She honestly didn’t know anymore—was Kent’s arrival a blessing, or just another complication?

Even if Kent showed up, with Shipley watching, it would only look like she’d staged some performance for sympathy.

She hadn’t figured out how to face Kent yet. The memory of Nannie grabbing her arm in the café still formed a hard knot in her chest that she couldn’t seem to untangle.

Just as Silvia was lost in thought, the front door opened. A man appeared, his suit a deep charcoal gray, shoulders dusted with the evidence of a long trip. The elegant cut of his jacket lent him an air of understated refinement.

He handed his gifts to the housekeeper, then let his gaze sweep across the room, taking in the faces gathered in the living room.

Shipley? What was he doing here?

Kent’s eyes didn’t linger on Shipley for long, but a ripple of unease stirred in his chest.

He’d spent the last few days trying to sort out the mess with Nannie and hadn’t had the faintest clue how to explain things to Silvia. Daily phone calls were all he could manage.

She always answered, but her tone was distant, every word measured and cool.

And now, was this supposed to be a family dinner? Shipley was here, of all people.

Was Silvia…regretting her choices?

If Lola hadn’t called him, he might not have known about any of this at all.

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